MASON - More than 700 new students will be joining Southwest Ohio's fastest-growing school district when classes start Tuesday. And even with the opening of 379,000-square-foot high school, district officials say another school could be on the way within five years.

        As of Friday afternoon, the district was expecting 739 new students, increasing enrollment to 8,102. Last year, the Warren County school district had 7,363 students.

        The increase is about 14 percent higher than the district's average of the past several years of 650 new students per year.

        “Growth has always been a challenge for us for many years, but it keeps us on our toes,” said Shelly Benesh Hausman, district spokeswoman. “It's certainly more than we've had in the last couple of years.”

        The numbers might change before Ohio's official enrollment count is taken in October. The official count is used in a formula that determines how much state aid school districts receive each year.

        The growth was not a surprise. The new student figures nearly match the district's staffing plan, which projected a 10 percent enrollment increase, said Craig Ullery, assistant superintendent for human resources

        This year, 49 of the 82 newly hired educators - which include counselors, speech therapists and teachers - were added because of the growth. About 43 percent of the hires are entry-level teachers.

        The district still is looking to hire another teacher for a half-day kindergarten.

        “We're in good shape,” Mr. Ullery said. “In our staffing plan every year, we give ourselves a little bit of cushion.”

        Tuesday also marks the opening of the new Mason High School, part of a complex that includes a 149,000-square-foot community center. Each classroom will have a projector, DVD player, VCR, synchronized atomic clocks, a telephone with voice mail, cable hookup and multimedia computers.

        The school has room for about 2,700 students. This year, 1,963 students are expected to attend.

        Another elementary school could be built within four years if the district continues to grow, Mrs. Benesh Hausman said. But the construction could be completed without an increase in tax rates.

        In July, the district approved a $149 million, long-term facilities plan that calls for enough classroom additions to house about 11,600 students. That's the number of students the district is expected to reach in the next 10 years, roughly the time when improvements would be done.

        Bus routes also have been expanded to cope with the growing enrollment. Ten more routes were added this year, increasing the total number of bus routes to 95.

        “I don't see any major concerns,” said David Foster, transportation director. “But the first few days are always touch and go as people get accustomed to the new year - for teachers, for drivers, for everybody.”

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